Introductions and Welcome

“On Media and Messaging: Incorporating Video and Social Networking into Language and Culture Classes”

While video has long been a staple of language classes, effective exploitation of these materials remains elusive. This workshop will demonstrate effective ways of using video toward proficiency-based objectives. Ways to use social networking media, such as Twitter, to enhance in-class video use will also be shown.
Dr. Thomas J. Garza, Director of the Texas Language Center and Associate Professor of Slavic and Eurasian Studies

11:15 - 11:30

Coffee Break

This nuts-and-bolts workshop covers several ways to employ PowerPoint not as a crutch or timesaver, but as a tool for creating rich classroom multimedia experiences. Tutorials will cover the preparation and use of excerpts from films, connecting presentation content to online resources, and integrating social media in real time.Kyle Mitchell, Senior Student Associate in the Texas Language Center and Graduate Student in CREEES/ Law

1:00 - 2:00

Lunch for Registered Participants

2:00 - 3:15

“Collaborative Reading: New Tools and New Methods for Improving Comprehension”

This talk will explore ways to improve your students’ comprehension of L2 texts with tools and methods that conceptualize reading as a social activity rather than an individual mental activity.Dr. Carl Blyth, Director of the Texas Language Technology Center and Associate Professor of French and Italian

3:15 - 3:30

Coffee Break

3:30 - 4:45

"Innovative Technologies in Language Learning: Look at What the Students Are Doing”

This workshop will look at some of the ways that students use innovative technologies in language learning. Examples of their participation in blogs, video digitalization, podcasts, course projects, etc. all demonstrate a sense of a community of learners that provides a support group for one another.

Dr. Orlando Kelm, Associate Director of Business Language Education at UT CIBER and Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese